The Experience
Introduction
Desert Race is a 2007 Intamin Accelerator Coaster at Heide Park, Germany. While the Accelerator model is mostly known for its crazy launches and towering top hats, most of the European installations are smaller, slightly more dynamic, and stay primarily close to the ground.
Desert Race is a near-clone of Rita at Alton Towers and serves as the only launch coaster at Heide Park. Given that most of the park's other coasters focus heavily on inversions and taller elements, Desert Race provides a ride experience completely different from anything else in their lineup.
Desert Race is a near-clone of Rita at Alton Towers and serves as the only launch coaster at Heide Park. Given that most of the park's other coasters focus heavily on inversions and taller elements, Desert Race provides a ride experience completely different from anything else in their lineup.
Sandbox Racing
Desert Race sits in the "Land der Vergessenen" (Land of the Forgotten). This is quite an appropriate name for an area that has always felt more like a sandbox than a fully realized desert-themed land. This mostly comes down to how little time you actually spend here, as the entire section is just a couple of rides along the outermost path. You don't actually get to walk deep into this area, and there is no central square or any shops around to immerse you in the theme. It more or less just feels like some light set dressing for a couple of rides placed next to each other. That is fine, but to say they could have done more here is an understatement. We will say, however, that the hanging helicopter in the station - which also doubles as the operator tower - is absolutely genius.
Hard Hitter
The main highlight of Desert Race is, without a doubt, its initial launch. For all the faults that hydraulic launches have - namely reliability issues -you certainly cannot slander them for a lack of power.
Even though Desert Race is one of the smaller and slower Accelerator Coasters, it still does its namesake proud by absolutely yanking you down the launch track, offering that true leave-your-stomach-in-the-station sort of feeling.
It is an exciting and exhilarating way to start a ride, that's for sure.
Even though Desert Race is one of the smaller and slower Accelerator Coasters, it still does its namesake proud by absolutely yanking you down the launch track, offering that true leave-your-stomach-in-the-station sort of feeling.
It is an exciting and exhilarating way to start a ride, that's for sure.
The Rest
But what does Desert Race do once the theatrics and the powerful launch are over? Where the massive installations like Stealth or Kingda Ka (R.I.P.) immediately shoot toward the sky into a towering top hat, Desert Race stays mostly low to the ground, twisting and turning through a short but fast-paced layout.
You are treated to some good moments of whip, solid positive G-forces, and even a few quick pops of airtime - though this is not an airtime machine by any stretch of the imagination. It is a solid enough layout with strong pacing, but it is both undeniably short and fairly repetitive.
Older models like Desert Race also still run the original trains with hard over-the-shoulder restraints, which are more restrictive and less comfortable than the lap bars found on newer-generation Intamin coasters. However, this isn't a massive dealbreaker, as Desert Race still tracks quite smoothly.
You are treated to some good moments of whip, solid positive G-forces, and even a few quick pops of airtime - though this is not an airtime machine by any stretch of the imagination. It is a solid enough layout with strong pacing, but it is both undeniably short and fairly repetitive.
Older models like Desert Race also still run the original trains with hard over-the-shoulder restraints, which are more restrictive and less comfortable than the lap bars found on newer-generation Intamin coasters. However, this isn't a massive dealbreaker, as Desert Race still tracks quite smoothly.
Conclusion
Desert Race is a solid thrill coaster. It boasts a powerful launch followed by a short but exciting layout packed with twists and turns. While it isn't the best-themed, most adventurous, or most airtime-filled ride out there, it fulfills its role as Heide Park's only launch coaster quite well - especially since that initial launch is the undisputed highlight of the experience. If you are lucky, you might catch a few pops of airtime alongside the whippy transitions, but no matter what, that hydraulic launch will always hit hard.
Gallery
Desert Race Gallery
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Strengths & Weaknesses
| Very Powerful Launch | |
| Fast Paced | |
| Whippy turns | |
| Repetitive Layout | |
| Short Ride Experience |
Information
NameDesert Race
Year2007
ParkLoading...
ManufacturerIntamin
ModelAccelerator Coaster
ScaleThrill
Ride Count3
Technical Specs
Specifications
Sit DownLaunchedCustomHydraulic
TypeSteel
Length2132,5 ft
Height62,3 ft
Speed63,4 mph
Inversions0
G-Force4,7 G
Duration49 sec